E&S Extra

If any one segment of the foodservice industry has worked tirelessly to shed its negative image from generations past and become a cornerstone of the communities it serves, that segment is healthcare foodservice. Years ago foodservice seemed to be an afterthought for many healthcare operations. Today, though, foodservice takes many forms and plays a leading role in helping healthcare facilities achieve their ultimate mission: serving patients and their support networks.

Education and innovation are critical to the success of most any foodservice company. In this blog post, FE&S Editor Joe Carbonara offers his take on how these two elements of success will play out in the upcoming NRA Show in Chicago.

Success is something we all chase. Outside of Monty Brewester, Richard Pryor's character in the hit movie Brewster's Millions, who had to prove he could squander $30 million in a short period of time so he could inherit $300 million, nobody sets out to waste resources. So why are some organizations more successful than others?

Few foodservice industry events generate the type of excitement and anticipation that The NAFEM Show does. The mood at the event was undeniably upbeat as foodservice professionals from all industry segments came hungry for information and if they left unsatisfied, well, it was their own fault.

It never ceases to make me cringe. I will be in a room with some marketing expert who starts chirping about a new branding initiative. And when I inquire about the new branding effort the conversation immediately shifts to how the company's new name, logo and color palette really capture the essence of the organization and its rich history. Completely absent from the conversation, though, are the customers and how they perceive the company.

For many in the foodservice community 2013 may arrive with a certain sense of déjà vu. That's because it seems like 2013 is poised to offer more of the same type of operating environment the industry experienced over the previous 12 months.